The Epic of Gilgamesh

Tablet XI The Story of the flood

Gilgamesh spoke to Utanapishtim,
the Faraway:
"I have been looking at you,
but your appearance is not
strange--you are like me!
You yourself are not
different--you are like me!
My mind was resolved to fight
with you,
(but instead?) my arm lies
useless over you.
Tell me, how is it that you
stand in the Assembly of the
Gods,
and have found life!"
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh,
saying:
"I will reveal to you,
Gilgamesh, a thing that is
hidden,
a secret of the gods I will tell
you!
Shuruppak, a city that you
surely know,
situated on the banks of the
Euphrates,
that city was very old, and
there were gods inside it.
The hearts of the Great Gods
moved them to inflict the Flood.
Their Father Anu uttered the
oath (of secrecy),
Valiant Enlil was their Adviser,
Ninurta was their Chamberlain,
Ennugi was their Minister of
Canals.
Ea, the Clever Prince(?), was
under oath with them
so he repeated their talk to the
reed house:
'Reed house, reed house! Wall,
wall!
O man of Shuruppak, son of
Ubartutu:
Tear down the house and build a
boat!
Abandon wealth and seek living
beings!
Spurn possessions and keep alive
living beings!
Make all living beings go up
into the boat.
The boat which you are to build,
its dimensions must measure
equal to each other:
its length must correspond to
its width.
Roof it over like the Apsu.
I understood and spoke to my
lord, Ea:
'My lord, thus is the command
which you have uttered
I will heed and will do it.
But what shall I answer the
city, the populace, and the
Elders!'
Ea spoke, commanding me, his
servant:
'You, well then, this is what
you must say to them:
"It appears that Enlil is
rejecting me
so I cannot reside in your city
(?),
nor set foot on Enlil's earth.
I will go down to the Apsu to
live with my lord, Ea,
and upon you he will rain down
abundance,
a profusion of fowl, myriad(!)
fishes.
He will bring to you a harvest
of wealth,
in the morning he will let
loaves of bread shower down,
and in the evening a rain of
wheat!"'
Just as dawn began to glow
the land assembled around me-
the carpenter carried his
hatchet,
the reed worker carried his
(flattening) stone,
... the men ...
The child carried the pitch,
the weak brought whatever else
was needed.
On the fifth day I laid out her
exterior.
It was a field in area,
its walls were each 10 times 12
cubits in height,
the sides of its top were of
equal length, 10 times It cubits
each.
I laid out its (interior)
structure and drew a picture of
it (?).
I provided it with six decks,
thus dividing it into seven
(levels).
The inside of it I divided into
nine (compartments).
I drove plugs (to keep out)
water in its middle part.
I saw to the punting poles and
laid in what was necessary.
Three times 3,600 (units) of raw
bitumen I poured into the
bitumen kiln,
three times 3,600 (units of)
pitch ...into it,
there were three times 3,600
porters of casks who carried
(vege-
table) oil,
apart from the 3,600 (units of)
oil which they consumed (!)
and two times 3,600 (units of)
oil which the boatman stored
away.
I butchered oxen for the
meat(!),
and day upon day I slaughtered
sheep.
I gave the workmen(?) ale, beer,
oil, and wine, as if it were
river water,
so they could make a party like
the New Year's Festival.
... and I set my hand to the
oiling(!).
The boat was finished by sunset.
The launching was very
difficult.
They had to keep carrying a
runway of poles front to back,
until two-thirds of it had gone
into the water(?).
Whatever I had I loaded on it:
whatever silver I had I loaded
on it,
whatever gold I had I loaded on
it.
All the living beings that I had
I loaded on it,
I had all my kith and kin go up
into the boat,
all the beasts and animals of
the field and the craftsmen I
had go up.
Shamash had set a stated time:
'In the morning I will let
loaves of bread shower down,
and in the evening a rain of
wheat!
Go inside the boat, seal the
entry!'
That stated time had arrived.
In the morning he let loaves of
bread shower down,
and in the evening a rain of
wheat.
I watched the appearance of the
weather--
the weather was frightful to
behold!
I went into the boat and sealed
the entry.
For the caulking of the boat, to
Puzuramurri, the boatman,
I gave the palace together with
its contents.
Just as dawn began to glow
there arose from the horizon a
black cloud.
Adad rumbled inside of it,
before him went Shullat and
Hanish,
heralds going over mountain and
land.
Erragal pulled out the mooring
poles,
forth went Ninurta and made the
dikes overflow.
The Anunnaki lifted up the
torches,
setting the land ablaze with
their flare.
Stunned shock over Adad's deeds
overtook the heavens,
and turned to blackness all that
had been light.
The... land shattered like a...
pot.
All day long the South Wind blew
...,
blowing fast, submerging the
mountain in water,
overwhelming the people like an
attack.
No one could see his fellow,
they could not recognize each
other in the torrent.
The gods were frightened by the
Flood,
and retreated, ascending to the
heaven of Anu.
The gods were cowering like
dogs, crouching by the outer
wall.
Ishtar shrieked like a woman in
childbirth,
the sweet-voiced Mistress of the
Gods wailed:
'The olden days have alas turned
to clay,
because I said evil things in
the Assembly of the Gods!
How could I say evil things in
the Assembly of the Gods,
ordering a catastrophe to
destroy my people!!
No sooner have I given birth to
my dear people
than they fill the sea like so
many fish!'
The gods--those of the
Anunnaki--were weeping with her,
the gods humbly sat weeping,
sobbing with grief(?),
their lips burning, parched with
thirst.
Six days and seven nights
came the wind and flood, the
storm flattening the land.
When the seventh day arrived,
the storm was pounding,
the flood was a war--struggling
with itself like a woman
writhing (in labor).
The sea calmed, fell still, the
whirlwind (and) flood stopped
up.
I looked around all day
long--quiet had set in
and all the human beings had
turned to clay!
The terrain was as flat as a
roof.
I opened a vent and fresh air
(daylight!) fell upon the side
of
my nose.
I fell to my knees and sat
weeping,
tears streaming down the side of
my nose.
I looked around for coastlines
in the expanse of the sea,
and at twelve leagues there
emerged a region (of land).
On Mt. Nimush the boat lodged
firm,
Mt. Nimush held the boat,
allowing no sway.
One day and a second Mt. Nimush
held the boat, allowing
no sway.
A third day, a fourth, Mt.
Nimush held the boat, allowing
no sway.
A fifth day, a sixth, Mt. Nimush
held the boat, allowing
no sway.
When a seventh day arrived
I sent forth a dove and released
it.
The dove went off, but came back
to me;
no perch was visible so it
circled back to me.
I sent forth a swallow and
released it.
The swallow went off, but came
back to me;
no perch was visible so it
circled back to me.
I sent forth a raven and
released it.
The raven went off, and saw the
waters slither back.
It eats, it scratches, it bobs,
but does not circle back to me.
Then I sent out everything in
all directions and sacrificed
(a sheep).
I offered incense in front of
the mountain-ziggurat.
Seven and seven cult vessels I
put in place,
and (into the fire) underneath
(or: into their bowls) I poured
reeds, cedar, and myrtle.
The gods smelled the savor,
the gods smelled the sweet
savor,
and collected like flies over a
(sheep) sacrifice.
Just then Beletili arrived.
She lifted up the large flies
(beads) which Anu had made for
his enjoyment(!):
'You gods, as surely as I shall
not forget this lapis lazuli
around my neck,
may I be mindful of these days,
and never forget them!
The gods may come to the incense
offering,
but Enlil may not come to the
incense offering,
because without considering he
brought about the Flood
and consigned my people to
annihilation.'
Just then Enlil arrived.
He saw the boat and became
furious,
he was filled with rage at the
Igigi gods:
'Where did a living being
escape?
No man was to survive the
annihilation!'
Ninurta spoke to Valiant Enlil,
saying:
'Who else but Ea could devise
such a thing?
It is Ea who knows every
machination!'
La spoke to Valiant Enlil,
saying:
'It is yours, O Valiant One, who
is the Sage of the Gods.
How, how could you bring about a
Flood without consideration
Charge the violation to the
violator,
charge the offense to the
offender,
but be compassionate lest
(mankind) be cut off,
be patient lest they be killed.
Instead of your bringing on the
Flood,
would that a lion had appeared
to diminish the people!
Instead of your bringing on the
Flood,
would that a wolf had appeared
to diminish the people!
Instead of your bringing on the
Flood,
would that famine had occurred
to slay the land!
Instead of your bringing on the
Flood,
would that (Pestilent) Erra had
appeared to ravage the land!
It was not I who revealed the
secret of the Great Gods,
I (only) made a dream appear to
Atrahasis, and (thus) he
heard the secret of the gods.
Now then! The deliberation
should be about him!'
Enlil went up inside the boat
and, grasping my hand, made me
go up.
He had my wife go up and kneel
by my side.
He touched our forehead and,
standing between us, he
blessed us:
'Previously Utanapishtim was a
human being.
But now let Utanapishtim and his
wife become like us,
the gods!
Let Utanapishtim reside far
away, at the Mouth of the
Rivers.'
They took us far away and
settled us at the Mouth of the
Rivers."
"Now then, who will convene the
gods on your behalf,
that you may find the life that
you are seeking!
Wait! You must not lie down for
six days and seven nights."
soon as he sat down (with his
head) between his legs
sleep, like a fog, blew upon
him.
Utanapishtim said to his wife:
"Look there! The man, the youth
who wanted (eternal) life!
Sleep, like a fog, blew over
him."
his wife said to Utanapishtim
the Faraway:
"Touch him, let the man awaken.
Let him return safely by the way
he came.
Let him return to his land by
the gate through which he left."
Utanapishtim said to his wife:
"Mankind is deceptive, and will
deceive you.
Come, bake loaves for him and
keep setting them by his head
and draw on the wall each day
that he lay down."
She baked his loaves and placed
them by his head
and marked on the wall the day
that he lay down.
The first loaf was dessicated,
the second stale, the third
moist(?), the fourth turned
white,
its ...,
the fifth sprouted gray (mold),
the sixth is still fresh.
the seventh--suddenly he touched
him and the man awoke.
Gilgamesh said to Utanapishtim:
"The very moment sleep was
pouring over me
you touched me and alerted me!"
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh,
saying:
"Look over here, Gilgamesh,
count your loaves!
You should be aware of what is
marked on the wall!
Your first loaf is dessicated,
the second stale, the third
moist, your fourth turned white,
its ...
the fifth sprouted gray (mold),
the sixth is still fresh.
The seventh--suddenly he touched
him and the man awoke.
Gilgamesh said to Utanapishtim:
"The very moment sleep was
pouring over me
you touched me and alerted me!"
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh,
saying:
"Look over here, Gilgamesh,
count your loaves!
You should be aware of what is
marked on the wall!
Your first loaf is dessicated,
the second stale, the third
moist, your fourth turned white,
its ...
the fifth sprouted gray (mold),
the sixth is still fresh.
The seventh--at that instant you
awoke!"
Gilgamesh said to Utanapishtim
the Faraway:
"O woe! What shall I do,
Utanapishtim, where shall I go!
The Snatcher has taken hold of
my flesh,
in my bedroom Death dwells,
and wherever I set foot there
too is Death!"
Home Empty-Handed
Utanapishtim said to Urshanabi,
the ferryman:
"May the harbor reject you, may
the ferry landing reject you!
May you who used to walk its
shores be denied its shores!
The man in front of whom you
walk, matted hair chains
his body,
animal skins have ruined his
beautiful skin.
Take him away, Urshanabi, bring
him to the washing place.
Let him wash his matted hair in
water like ellu.
Let him cast away his animal
skin and have the sea carry it
off,
let his body be moistened with
fine oil,
let the wrap around his head be
made new,
let him wear royal robes worthy
of him!
Until he goes off to his city,
until he sets off on his way,
let his royal robe not become
spotted, let it be perfectly
new!"
Urshanabi took him away and
brought him to the washing
place.
He washed his matted hair with
water like ellu.
He cast off his animal skin and
the sea carried it oh.
He moistened his body with fine
oil,
and made a new wrap for his
head.
He put on a royal robe worthy of
him.
Until he went away to his city,
until he set off on his way,
his royal robe remained
unspotted, it was perfectly
clean.
Gilgamesh and Urshanabi bearded
the boat,
they cast off the magillu-boat,
and sailed away.
The wife of Utanapishtim the
Faraway said to him:
"Gilgamesh came here exhausted
and worn out.
What can you give him so that he
can return to his land (with
honor) !"
Then Gilgamesh raised a punting
pole
and drew the boat to shore.
Utanapishtim spoke to Gilgamesh,
saying:
"Gilgamesh, you came here
exhausted and worn out.
What can I give you so you can
return to your land?
I will disclose to you a thing
that is hidden, Gilgamesh,
a... I will tell you.
There is a plant... like a
boxthorn,
whose thorns will prick your
hand like a rose.
If your hands reach that plant
you will become a young
man again."
Hearing this, Gilgamesh opened a
conduit(!) (to the Apsu)
and attached heavy stones to his
feet.
They dragged him down, to the
Apsu they pulled him.
He took the plant, though it
pricked his hand,
and cut the heavy stones from
his feet,
letting the waves(?) throw him
onto its shores.
Gilgamesh spoke to Urshanabi,
the ferryman, saying:
"Urshanabi, this plant is a
plant against decay(!)
by which a man can attain his
survival(!).
I will bring it to Uruk-Haven,
and have an old man eat the
plant to test it.
The plant's name is 'The Old Man
Becomes a Young Man.'"
Then I will eat it and return to
the condition of my youth."
At twenty leagues they broke for
some food,
at thirty leagues they stopped
for the night.
Seeing a spring and how cool its
waters were,
Gilgamesh went down and was
bathing in the water.
A snake smelled the fragrance of
the plant,
silently came up and carried off
the plant.
While going back it sloughed off
its casing.'
At that point Gilgamesh sat
down, weeping,
his tears streaming over the
side of his nose.
"Counsel me, O ferryman
Urshanabi!
For whom have my arms labored,
Urshanabi!
For whom has my heart's blood
roiled!
I have not secured any good deed
for myself,
but done a good deed for the
'lion of the ground'!"
Now the high waters are coursing
twenty leagues distant,'
as I was opening the conduit(?)
I turned my equipment over
into it (!).
What can I find (to serve) as a
marker(?) for me!
I will turn back (from the
journey by sea) and leave the
boat by
the shore!"
At twenty leagues they broke for
some food,
at thirty leagues they stopped
for the night.
They arrived in Uruk-Haven.
Gilgamesh said to Urshanabi, the
ferryman:
"Go up, Urshanabi, onto the wall
of Uruk and walk around.
Examine its foundation, inspect
its brickwork thoroughly--
is not (even the core of) the
brick structure of kiln-fired
brick,
and did not the Seven Sages
themselves lay out its plan!
One league city, one league palm
gardens, one league lowlands,
the open area(?) of the Ishtar
Temple,
three leagues and the open
area(?) of Uruk it encloses.